Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg each posted a goal and one assist, while Drew Miller and Jason Williams also lit the lamp for the Red Wings, who had dropped six of their last seven games.

"This is the time when you have to have that urgency," said Lidstrom of his club's desire to halt their skid. "They did a good job of getting into shooting lanes, breaking up passes, and overall playing with a sense of desperation."

Francis Bouillon and Shea Weber scored for the Predators, who lost for the fifth game in a row. Dan Ellis was tagged for all four goals on 29 shots in defeat.

Weber's prayer from the boards along the right point cut the Preds' deficit to 3-2 at the 5:57 mark of the third, but Detroit regained its two-goal edge when Zetterberg scored from behind the goal line to the left of Ellis with 9:48 to play.

Pavel Datsyuk had dumped the puck in along the left boards hoping for his linemate, and Zetterberg was able to catch the Nashville netminder out of position for his 13th goal of the season.

The Preds pulled Ellis for an extra skater at the same time Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski was called for interference, but Howard made sure the lead held with several key stops down the stretch.

Williams celebrated his first game back from injury with a tip-in goal for a 1-0 Detroit lead on the power play with 1:33 left in the opening period -- but Bouillon tied the game with 23.2 seconds left.

Lidstrom put the Wings back on top 5:55 into the second and Miller made it a two-goal Wings edge on a diving tip in the crease at 8:57.

Nashville unloaded 20 shots on net in the middle 20 minutes but Howard was equal to the task.

"We had multiple chances to put this away. I felt we were the better hockey team in a variety of areas but you know a lot of times the better team doesn't win," said Predators head coach Barry Trotz. "I can't remember ever coming in here and getting 48 shots."